title: Mycobacterioses in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterial infections are important in humans and animals. Cats can be infected by several Mycobacterium species, which may cause different syndromes, mainly tuberculosis, atypical or non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis and leprosy. In recent years, awareness has increased about how to recognise and confirm these infections. More cases are diagnosed today, which probably means that the disease has escaped detection in the past.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Most cases in cats are cutaneous, presenting as nodules in the skin and draining tracts, ulceration and local lymphadenopathy; however, systemic dissemination may also occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Definitive diagnosis is difficult when the bacterium cannot be detected by histology or culture. However, species confirmation is essential for treatment and prognosis, so material for culture and polymerase chain reaction should be submitted in every suspected case.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment is challenging. A combination of two or three antibiotics is needed, and treatment must be continued for some months, which makes owner compliance especially difficult in cats. ZOONOTIC RISK: There is a zoonotic risk associated with some mycobacterial species. Concerns should be communicated in every case of an immunocompromised owner in contact with an infected cat.
authors.affiliation: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. Albert.LLoret@uab.cat
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloret
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addie
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belák
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucraut-Baralon
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frymus
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsilio
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möstl
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents